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Algebra 1

Discovering an Area Model

Algebra 1Discovering an Area Model

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Access the interactive simulator to begin this project.

In this activity, whenever you see 💬, stop and share your responses with your partner. If you have different responses, try to come to a consensus.

Today you are going to investigate something called an interactive simulation. It is a tool that will help you visualize how area model multiplication works.

A dark screen with the title Area Model Algebra. Three options: Explore (highlighted, showing a grid with 10 by 10  split to 5,and 5 labeled on left under the number 10 and 3 and 7 labeled on the top under the number 10), Generic, Variables, and Game are displayed.in unhighlighted boxes t the right.

Step 1 - Open the interactive simulator, Area Model Algebra in your web browser. You will use it to complete this project. It will look like the image above.

Step 2 - Play with any of the screens on Area Model Algebra for 5 minutes.

Step 3 - Complete the following questions.

  1. What does the area of a rectangle have to do with multiplication? 💬
  2. Write down two things you notice or have questions about, and one thing a neighbor noticed that is interesting to you.
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© May 21, 2025 OpenStax. Textbook content produced by OpenStax is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike License . The OpenStax name, OpenStax logo, OpenStax book covers, OpenStax CNX name, and OpenStax CNX logo are not subject to the Creative Commons license and may not be reproduced without the prior and express written consent of Rice University.